Workshop Old Doors Windows and Walls

This September we again meet in the community center every Tuesday morning.  New beginnings after a very long and sad summer.  Decided it was about time to take out the 10 small canvases  30 x 30 cm I bought at a sale a few months ago.

I love old buildings, houses, walls etc.  Found some wonderful images on the Wetcanvas  Reference Image Library..   These were built up slowly using a quite limited palette of my chromatic black that I make from raw umber and ultramarine blue, ultramarine blue, white and yellow ochre.  Worked mainly with the palette knife.  After each layer did a bit of sandpapering. May do it again on these three.... to soften some of the areas.

 Oils on 30 x 30 wrapped canvas

Door and Wall

 Oils on 30 x 30 wrapped canvas

Two Windows

 Oils on 30 x 30 wrapped canvas

Wide Door and Window

30 in 30 Collage

Reflections 30 in 30 challenge

First I would like to thank Leslie Saeta  for giving me to opportunity to share my work on her blog and view and learn from so many artists. Also my dear friend Meridith Adler who introduced me to these challenges and has constantly supported me.

This is my second challenge my first was in January 2014. I wasn't sure that emotionally I would be able to do the challenge but I felt that it would be some sort of therapy. I decided to work on a small format 8 x 8 inches and use mainly dry media. For personal reasons I chose the theme of hands because of what it symbolizes for me.

During this journey I found some old and new friends and want to thank them all for their support and comments.  I enjoyed working with my oil/wax crayons and sticking to a theme although at some points found it difficult. Here is the collage of the 30 day challenge. Actually left out one that I didn't like and placed 2  from day 29.

Collage was made by Photovisi 

30 in 30 Day 30

At Peace

Day 30 I wanted something special.  Something that would sort of sum up the month of the challenge and the theme I chose... hands.  Some were conceptual and some more to the realistic... all showed hands in some form or another.  For the final sketch, I feel they are all sketches, I looked at the hands of one the most famous paintings. Most recognize the enigmatic smile of Mona Lisa but her hands show such elegance and restfulness they are at peace....we all want and need peace.... within ourselves and within our world.

This is far from perfect.... rubbed down first attempt and started a new..

Charcoal and conte on grey pressed cardboard

8 x 8